Temple To Honor Rabbi For 25 Years Of Leadership

READER SUBMITTED:

Rabbi Jeffrey Bennett.

October 03, 2012|Woody Exley, Temple Sinai, Farmington Valley

Rabbi Jeffrey Bennett, one of the longest serving rabbis in the Hartford area, will be honored by the Temple Sinai Congregation in recognition of his 25 years of dedicated service on Saturday, Nov. 3, at 7 p.m. at the temple, 41 West Hartford Road, Newington.

The public is invited to attend the event, which will include a Havdalah service, a tribute to Rabbi Bennett, refreshments, and music by Peri Smilow, a nationally recognized singer/songwriter. Ms. Smilow is a co-creator of the Freedom Music Project, which brings together Jewish and African-American singers who perform music of the Passover tradition and the Civil Rights Movement. For more information: http://www.perismilow.com.

Master of ceremonies will be Brad Drazen, weekday morning co-anchor of NBC Connecticut News Today and the station's education correspondent who produces the weekly "Making the Grade" series.

Please RSVP by Oct. 22 by sending a check for $36 per person to the temple office, 41 West Hartford Road, Newington, CT 06111. For information, 860-561-1055.

"We're delighted to honor Rabbi Bennett for his spirited, dynamic and energetic leadership over the past 25 years," said Carol Benjamin, president of the congregation.

"Under Rabbi Bennett's guidance, Temple Sinai has grown and flourished as a vibrant, welcoming, inclusive congregation," she said. "He is known for bringing a historical and educational perspective to our services and temple events while nurturing our spiritual growth - all with warmth, wit and good cheer.

"The Rabbi is an inspiring teacher, and we're fortunate that so many of our children have been introduced to the Jewish faith through his caring instruction over the years," she said.

Rabbi Bennett holds a bachelor's degree from Rutgers University, New Jersey, and master's and doctoral degrees from Hebrew Union College, New York. He resides with his wife Debra in West Hartford.